Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) this week, announced that the city of Gardena has been awarded $500,000 in federal funding to meet the housing needs of its lower-income residents. Awarded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the funds have been distributed as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which provides grants to states and localities that fund a wide range of activities, including the building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership.

“Affordable housing is the cornerstone of a productive and thriving society. It impacts a family’s ability to afford other necessities, such as food, transportation and medical care. Unfortunately, cities like Gardena continue to face a shortage of affordable housing, leaving its residents young and old struggling to make ends meet. I’m pleased that this important federal support has been awarded to the City, which will increase the supply of affordable housing and allow more of Gardena’s families to live a healthy, productive life.”

Among other uses, the City can use the funds to provide downpayment assistance to purchase a family’s first home, rehabilitate housing to allow lower income families and seniors to remain in their homes, and make rental housing affordable through tenant-based rental assistance.

As Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, Rep. Waters has long been an advocate of affordable housing, and of the HOME Program. In October, she participated in a roundtable discussion on Gardena’s housing issues, which included an in-depth conversation of ways to increase the supply of affordable housing for the city’s aging population.

“In Washington, I remain committed to using my role as Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over housing issues, to ensure we are working to meet the housing needs of our aging population in Gardena and across our community.”

HOME is the largest Federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. Funds are awarded annually. The program’s flexibility allows states and local governments to use HOME funds for grants, direct loans, loan guarantees or other forms of credit enhancements, or rental assistance or security deposits.

The award is part of $11.8 million awarded in 2014 to help meet the affordable housing needs of California’s families.